October 13th

[DockShootinJack]

I had considered getting another Pug, wanted one but my brother in-law passed and we adopted his dog.
Boots is some kind of retriever mix, she weighs 35 lbs. Some jerk bobbed her tail apparently when she was young and to this day she doesn't want her hind in touched.
She loves us all and I love her but I will never forget my Lily.

Going to be some hard times around here for me when something happens to them. The little Bulldog has had a botched tail job as a pup before we got him. Broke it and cut ot off long. He doesn't seem to let it bother him

[DrNip]

Nice! Yeah they clean better cool. Winter time they stay naturally cool in the livewell. Hotter months I’m similar to what you do but I buy 3 bags ice and throw in cooler and dump about a gallon or so water in it. Gets the fish nice and cold. Stay in there too long they get frozen like you said.

As far as vacusealing, I place exact amount of filets nicely in a bag and then place in freezer open. Once they freeze I then vacuseal. I have found this way simpler and less messy.

I get these bags off amazon. 200 for $25.

[Micanopy]

Got home from work a little early yesterday and took my wife fishing. Usually fishing is something I do early in the day, so it was different leaving the launch in the afternoon. We jetted across the lake. All the way across. The boat cruises very nicely at 35 mph and that was a good speed across the slight waves. Set out 8 rods and began trolling. We cruised and we talked and the fish simply ignored my fine jig selection. Our first year anniversary is a week away and she asked me what a year’s worth of wedding bliss had taught me. Just then I got a nibble. Then we talked some more and the fish continued to ignore me.

We had covered about a mile at this point and we got our first fish of the day. A throw back but he fought like an angry young man. He definitely did not like what was happening. Then another wee dinkum, followed by yet another. Then came a big hit. This fish stayed under and thrashed wildly. When he did finally surface I could see he had a big mouth. A real slob. Then the leader just separated and he was gone. That makes me mad every time it happens. Then we hooked the mother of all crappie and I handed her the rod. She fought that beast for minutes and as it finally came close, I saw a catfish about 10 pounds. Off he went with the drag going zoom. So I am trying to untangle the rod scene while she wears him down. Then just as I prepared to dipnet him, the line……wait for it…..wait……seperated and he stole my jig. Looked like a punk rocker with piercings in his nose. Drats.

We managed to go on to catch some keepers and by then it was too hot for her. She wanted to swim but I was concerned for her safety as this lake has large wild dragons even in the middle. So we breezed back to the launch and saw some folks fishing from the bank. I loaded the boat and walked over and asked if they would like our fish. They started hollering and waving their arms…..get the cooler one yelled. Get the cooler. So they came over to where she was sitting in the truck enjoying the a/c, and I placed the cooler down and said the ice can go too. They had a young boy with them and his eyes were wild looking into that cooler. He was defintely unsure of what I might have captured. They dumped the cooler water, ice, and fish and managed to get it all. They said they had caught about five fish, and I imagine they were small sunfish. Our fish made for a nice mess I hope.

She asked me how some people can stand on a hot dock and just fish like they were doing. I told her that some folks are a little tougher than she is.

Back home I made two fat T Bone steaks seus vide style. Mmmmmmm……132 degrees gets it done nicely. I had found shrimp on sale at $5 a pound and had boiled them just prior to us going fishing. Half were in a plastic tub in the cooler on the boat for her to enjoy as a snack. Shrimp shells make good chum as you troll along you know, and I do a fine boiled shrimp. You really don’t need any seasonings in the water, just salt. I still add a taste of Old Bay and just a little vinegar though. The trick is in how long you cook them. Bring about a gallon and half of water to a boil, then place a pound of shrimp in. Overloading the water with shrimp actually slows the process. I stir them about and remove in less than a minute. Once most of the tails have curled, fish them out and let them finish in a bowl. If the shells are sticky and not peeling easily, they were left in the water too long. The meat is very delicate and easily altered which is what makes them so popular. I have grilled them but prefer the sweetness of freshly boiled.

So today I am going to take her fishing. NOT….hah had you. Gonna take her around and do whatever she wants to do. This will include a lunch where someone serves her. I swear the taste of the food does not matter in the least. The fact that she was served is all that matters. I am not thrilled with restaurants and men with facial piercings fingering my food items. I don’t like sitting next to ugly people as they slurp down whatever it was they got. I far prefer to fix a meal at home, but like I said, what she wants is different.

I almost forgot. Before it got dark last night I cut away all those leaders and fashioned on all new leaders. That line was great and while it lasted was good. However any kinks from previous wrap ups and it simply pops. Has happened before and I think that line is a bad choice for me. I need something more durable and less finese. Seems all my leaders get these kinks when the fish smack them around and twirl about and stuff. The line gets wrapped around the under spin blades and there you are. I was using 8 pound test and decided to stay with 8 pound but this time using Viscious brand. If the problem persists I will jump up to 10 pound line. I hate losing really nice fish. Yes……the drags were all set properly. No……the fish were not being horsed. The line just became weak and let go. I didn’t much care about that catfish, but that slob was a fine specimen and he liked my John Deere under spin jig.

They all liked that jig. The new plastics I am using seem to be quite the treat. Slabonater’s Hot Rods. Coupled with the under spin they ride through the water nicely and the fish seem to prefer that presentation. I need to order more colors though even if the colors I presently have are popular. Two inch Hot Rods for the 1/16th oz and 3” for the 3/16th oz. Nicely matched. The jigs I make with curly tails are less effective and while I do catch some fish with them, the straight thick tail swims better. I imagine the difference to be very subtle to my eyes, but hugely evident to their’s. Dialing Them In a little bit at a time now. Before I was making wild shifts in what I was using, and now small incremental and purposeful changes as I discover things.

I am considering adding two more rods to the spread. Straight out the back of the boat. I need to buy some and plan to go cheap and use cheap spinning reels on them. Maybe 6 footers. Currently using two 16’- and two 11’ - and four 10’s. This setup is open for change at anytime as I toy around and experiment to see what works best. I want to be able to make somewhat acute turns without disastrous outcomes. I want to be able to bring in a fish from any rod and not have it tangle and foul. So far I am doing pretty good with those two parameters. I see where two more rods would fit right in no problemo.

Sorry I didn’t think to take pictures of our day trip. She looked fabulous, too. I am the man that accompanies her here and there and no one cares what I wear. What do you think I said that I had learned in our first year of marriage ?

[Micanopy]

I said - That God must love me a whole bunch to give me a bride as fine as you.

[Slab]

Great report. Love the salted ice water idea. I too chill my fish, but not immediately like you do. I wait till I get home and throw them in the fridge and put some ice on top. They clean so much better the next day after they been chilled and are slightly stiff. And I too am not fond of cleaning crappie. I've been cleaning fish my whole life and sometimes it just seems so difficult still. I don't often keep crappie as my wife won't eat it (only when we go to a crappie.com event will she eat crappie). Maybe it's the way I prepare it, dono. Anyway, great report. Thanks for sharing. Happy Anniversary.

[DockShootinJack]

Sounds like a great day. Happy anniversary

[BobC]

Yes, a happy anniversary to you both, and it sounds like it was a super day. Congrats!
Bob